The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
has released its final proposal to designate Thunder Bay and
surrounding waters on Lake Huron as the 13th National Marine
Sanctuary.

The proposal, detailed in the Final Environmental
Impact Statement and Management Plan for the Thunder Bay National
Marine Sanctuary, includes a five-year management plan and draft
final regulations as well as responds to public comments received
during the sanctuary designation process. The plan will be mailed
to the proposed sanctuary's mailing list and also made available
to the public.

Thunder Bay contains a nationally important
collection of historic shipwrecks that represents maritime heritage
of regional, national and international significance. This would
be the first national marine sanctuary to focus solely upon a
large collection of underwater cultural resources. Thunder Bay
would also be the first sanctuary to be designated in the Great
Lakes.

"Thunder Bay's historic maritime significance
would be a great asset to the country's national marine sanctuary
system," said Ellen Brody, project coordinator for the proposed
sanctuary. "NOAA is very excited about the potential inclusion
of Thunder Bay into this system."

The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
would establish a partnership among the local community, the
state of Michigan and NOAA to provide long-term protection and
management for the site's underwater cultural resources.

"NOAA has worked very closely with
the state and local governments, communities and organizations
in the area during the entire designation process. The Sanctuary
Advisory Council, in particular, has provided invaluable input
into this project. We are eager to continue our partnership
with the local communities and the state to preserve the impressive
collection of underwater cultural resources in the area,"
said Brody.

National marine sanctuary designation would
bring national attention to this site and would establish research,
monitoring and education programs to improve public awareness
and appreciation for the site's culturally-significant resources.
Management of the sanctuary would be guided by the advice of
a Sanctuary Advisory Council, representing local and regional
interests.

NOAA's National
Marine Sanctuary Program celebrates 27 years of preserving
our nation's special marine environments. Today, 12 sanctuaries
protect coral reefs, open ocean environments, kelp forests, historic
shipwrecks, and countless species of marine plants and animals.
In addition, marine sanctuaries help communities balance long-term
protection of the marine environments with continued use and
enjoyment. More information on the National Marine Sanctuary
Program is available on the Internet at www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov.

Publication of the FEIS/MP starts a 30-day
"cooling off" period. Any written comments or questions
may be addressed to Ellen Brody at NOAA, 2205 Commonwealth Blvd.,
Ann Arbor, MI 48105-2945 (telephone: 734/741-2270). Following
this 30-day period, NOAA will publish the final regulations in
the Federal
Register, which starts a 45-day period of continuous
Congressional session. Assuming no objection by the Governor,
the Sanctuary will be designated, most likely in late 1999 or
early 2000.

Copies of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement and Management Plan are available at the following
locations: